Jeff Samardzija allows 4 hits and White Sox shut out Blue Jays 2-0

CHICAGO – Jeff Samardzija had a four-hitter, Melky Cabrera homered and the Chicago White Sox shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Thursday.

Samardzija (6-4) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for a second straight game. It was his first complete game of the season. He struck out Toronto slugger Jose Bautista to end the 2 hour, 15-minute game and threw 108 pitches.

Samardzija, the subject of trade rumours as the deadline approaches, has pitched at least seven innings in seven straight starts, but Thursday was the first time during that stretch he was able to get through the eighth inning. He had just one win during that span before Thursday.

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Chicago won three of four in the series.

Toronto’s R.A. Dickey (3-10) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings.

The White Sox, who had just five hits, have won eight of 10.

Samardzija took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Ryan Goins singled to right field with one out. The next batter, Devon Travis, hit a weak grounder to left side of the infield. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie, who was playing in, tried to cut the ball off, but ended up deflecting it past shortstop Gordon Beckham into left field.

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Goins advanced to third on the play. Samardzija got All-Star Josh Donaldson to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The White Sox took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Adam Eaton led off with a triple and later scored on a passed ball as catcher Russell Martin missed Dickey’s knuckleball.

Cabrera then made it 2-0 with a solo shot into the right-field bullpen.

Trainer’s Room:

White Sox: Shortstop Alexei Ramirez didn’t start after fouling a ball off his left foot on Wednesday night. “He’s not moving around all that great,” manager Robin Ventura said.

Up Next:

Blue Jays: They head to Kansas City for a weekend series with the Royals. RHP Marco Estrada (6-4, 3.59 ERA) starts the opener on Friday against LHP Danny Duffy (2-4, 5.14). Estrada is 5-1 with a 3.29 ERA in his past seven starts.

White Sox: Their final series before the All-Star break is a crosstown matchup with the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Rookie LHP Carlos Rodon (3-2, 4.18 ERA) starts the opener on Friday against RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.82). Rodon is limiting left-handed batters to a .209 average with no homers and 24 strikeouts.